Dust-cap construction



-A. E BRONSON.

DUST CAP CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION HLED JAN. 5.

f fi'iveizfolr valve stem of usual' characteristics.

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ii'ii QFFttitt.

DUST-CAP CONSTRUCTION Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1922.

Application filed January 5, 1921. Serial No. 435,112.

T Q all whom it may concern.

Be 1t known that I, Annnnun'r E. BRUN- soN, a citizen of the l mtedStates, residing at Cleveland, in the county of (uyahoga of the valvestem in detaching or attachingthe same.

A further-object of the invention is to provide a valve cap in which theretaining or holding member by which the dust cap is ultimately securedto the valve stem is operated by engagement with the valve stem, andadditionally. in certain instances performs the additional function ofsealing the end of the valve stem.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification in which Fig. 1 is an elevation with portions insection of the end of a valve stem with a rim nut and a dust cap of thepresent invention:mounted upon the valve stem; Fig. 2 is an elevation ofa retaining member; Fig- 3'is a top plan view of the showing in Fig. 2;Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation ofthe showing in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is asectional elevation of a modified form; Fig. 6 is a top plan view of theform shown in Fig. l.

Referring tg i'the'di wing, 1 indicates a and threaded on its externalsurface. and further provided with an'extension 2 which is also threadedupon its external surface. The foregoing construction isof the usualconstruction of valve stems as at present used.

Upon the valve stem 1 is a nut 8 known as a rim nut, which is threadedonto the valve stem after the valve stem is inserted through the holewhich is usually provided in the felloc of a wheel to receive thevalvestem. The nut being threaded on. the valve stem engages with the innerside of the felly of the wheel and holds the valve seem in position. I

The dust cap comprises an elongated shell 4 which is open at its lowerend and closed at its outer end. This dust cap is usually made of sheetmetal and is so formed as to have a plurality of columnar faces orfacets as indicated at 5 in Fig. 1. This latter con-- struction is adesirable one, but other forms may be used.

The outer end of the dust cap is formed with a projecting member (3which is provided with a slot 7 formed therein. This slotted projectioncomprises a screw driver by which the valve insides may be removed fromthe valve stem in a manner which is well understood by those familiarwith this art. v

\Vithin the dust cap 4 is a retaining memher which may be generallyrepresented at 8. This member is cylindrical and at its upper and lowerends is provided with flanges 8 and 8 which flanges at their peripheryare formed with flat faces, which faces are complemeutary to the faces"or facets 5 of the dust cap shell so that when the retaining member 8 isinserted within the shell it may slide within the shell but cannotrotate with respect thereto.

The foregoing provision is but one construction which may be utilized toprevent relative turning between the retaining inem-' her and the shellof the dust cap and it will be understood. that the invention is notlimited to the construction which has'jusfl been described.

The retaining member 8 is provided with 'a slot such as indicated at 9,which slot extends completely through the retaining member and down tothe lower extension or base 8*, thus making in effect an incomplctelysplit nut.

The retaining member 8 is hollow' and upon a portion of the interiorsurface it is provided with threads as indicated at 110. these threadsbeing adapted teen-gage with the threaded extension 2 of a valve stem toengagetherewith. Within the retaining member 8 and beyond the threads 10is a washer or packing member 11 which mav be formed of lead or anyother suit able material and this washer is usually held in its place bythe friction of the engagement of the periphery of-the washer with theinner surface or wall of the retaining member 8.

Above the Washer 11 located a pedestal 1:2. This pedestal is hollow annis without perforation so that when thc mcmber 8 is threaded on the endof a valve stem, the end of the valve stem is scalcd so far as thepassage of air is conccrnml by the engagement of the washer of the valvestem cxtcnsion 3 and l'urthcr, from the fact that thc cdcstal I! isimpcrfor-ate The top of tho pcdcsial is providcd with adopression suchas indicatcd at ii. which depression is adaptcd to support a sphericalmcmbcr 13. The portion of the top incmhcr S of the retaining member 8which is directly above the pedestal 12 is provided with a circularopening 14 and the sphcrical meniher 13 is held up to this opening. Theen gagement between the spherical member 3 and the cooperating walls ofthe opening 14 are however, under normal conditions only of such anature as will not, expand the split retaining member 8.

'hen the dustcap is assembled upon a 'alve stem and the threadedextansion 2 is caused to engage with the threaded interior of the member8, the washer l1 cvcn tuall engages the end of the threaded portion 2;which in turn pushes the pedestal l2 outwardly and with it the sphericalincinbcr 13. This spherical member 13 pushes tho sides of the splitmember 8 outwardly causing them to impinge-tightly against the innerWall of the shell 4 and the continued ro tation of the shell will soonexpand the split portion of the retaining member h so that the shell ofthe dust cap will be held in a definite position due to this frictionalretcntion.

When the dust cap is turned in a manner to detach thomembcr 8 from thethreaded extension 2 of the valve stem, the inherent resiliency of theretaining member 8 forces the spherical member 13 inwardly and so thatthe member 8- is returned to its initial position. f

It will be apparent that upon an original application of the dust cap'toa valve stem, the retaining member 8 may be threaded upon the end of thevalve stem and before the tightening action is complete the shell may heshoved over the valve stem until it is in (intact with the rim nut orwith the rim 0 folly of the Wheel where no rim nut is H S ed and nponfurt or turning of the shell of the dust cap the amping action Willinsue.. i 2

After the retaining-member 8 has been adjusted to proper position withinthe shell 4 with respect to any given valve stem, it may be attached bymerely turning the valve stem as an entirety and it is only requiredthat the dust cap be rotated sufiiciently so that the Jew threads of theend of the valve stem may be engaged by the threads of the H upon tholop' member 8. In any event the hunt her of t ircads rcipiircd to effectattachment is a limilcd number and the threading on or oil may bequickly accomplished.

ln Fig. 5 a modilicd form of the invention is shown. The rclainingmember which is indicalod at F4" is precisely the same/ in constructionas tho retaining member 8 and the thrianlcd portion 10 is thr same as holorc described. Within the rctaining membcr H is a washer 11 which isthe same as thc washcr ll. conical shaped nicmbcr 1.3 which conicalincn'ibcr rests upon the washer 11 but the conical end extends throughan opening 1-16 and engages with the top portion of the retain in Abovethe washer l1 is a member 8" in a manner similar to the engagemcnt otthespherical member 13 with the recess l4." With the construction doscribcdm Fig. 5 the operation is precisely the samc. that is to say. when theretaining member 8 is threaded upon tln alve stem. tho cud of tho 'alvestcin will push the washer II and the conical member 15 upwardly thusexpanding the upper end of the split nut and causing the frictionalengagelncnt. bctwceu tho cdgc of the upper flango of thc split nut inprecisely the same manncr as was described with member 8.

Having described my invention. lfclaim:

.l. A dust cap comprising a shell which is,

opcn at onc cnih a mombcr within said shell I. i

which sndahly engagcs the inner wall of the shell. said member havingoppositely v disrespect to the:

posed portions which may be expanded. eX-j panding mcans cooperatin withtho said mcmhcr by which ihc cxpansiblc portions may bc expanded. saidmember having a threadcd opening by which it may be attach'cd lo athrcadcd stcm and the expanding member operated;

2. A dust cap comprising a hollow slic-ll which is open at one cud. ahollow slidable mcmhcr ci'igaging the inner wall of said shell. aportion of the interior ol said slidable member being threaded andadapted to engage with the threads upon a threaded stem, said memberhcingl'orn'icd with oppositely disposed parts which may bc expanded,mcans associated with the said slidable member for causing expansion ofthe expansible parts ol the same when the Said slidable member isscrewed upon a threaded stem.

3. A dustcap comprising a hollow shell,

one "end of which is open. a slidable meinber engaging the inner wall ofsaid shell, said slidablo member having a cross slot extending partiallythrough the same in a longitudinal direction. thereby pansible portionsof said slidahle membcr, expanding moans associated with the slid ablemember for expanding said cxpansihlo portions of the slidable. member,said sli lforming exaaaaaa able hieihberbeihg provided wltlia threadedopening which is adapted to engage with a threaded stem, for the purposedescribed.

' 4. A dust cap comprising a hollow shell,

within the slidable member, said slidable member being provided with athreaded opening which is adapted to engage with a threaded stem'andthereby move the said expanding means to expand the expansible portionof the slidable member against the Wall of the shell.

5. A dust cap comprising ahollow shell, one end of which is open, ahollow slidable member within said shell, said slidable member beingpartially split longitudinally, a movable member within the slidablemember and cooperating with the end of the slidable member which issplit, the said slidable member being provided with .a threaded openingadapted to receive a threaded stem.

6. Adust cap comprising a hollow shell open atone end, a hollow slidablemember within said shell, said slidable member being partially'splitlongitudinally, thereby providing expansible portions which may beforced against the wall of the shell, a spherical member cooperatingwith the said'expansible portions of theslidable member, a member withinthe hollow slidable member which supports the member, said supportingmember being capable of movement within the hollow slidable member, awasher within the hollow slidable member, said slidable member having athreaded opening which is adapted to cooperate with a threaded stem.

7. A dust cap comprising a shell which is open at one end, a hollowslidable member engaging the inner wall of said shell, said slidablemember bein" tudinally thereof, t ereby providing ex ansible portions ofthe slidable member, a.

ollow member within the slidable member and having limited movement toengage and expand the expansible member, a washer having an openingtherethrough, the washer engaging with anend of the said hollow member,the slidable member being provided with a threaded opening which isadapted to engage with a threaded stem, for the purpose described. I

8. A dust cap comprising a hollow shell which is open at one endthereof,a slidable member engaging with the inner wall of the said shell, saidslidable member being hollow and provided with a longitudinal slotextending partially throughthe same, thereb providing two expansibleportions,.expan ing means within the hollow slidable member, which areadapted to expand the expartially split lohgipansible portions of theslidable member, I

said means comprising a member with a central depressed portion, awasher havin a central opening, which washer is locate within-theslidable member and cooperating with the said member with the centraldepression, the said hollow member beingipromeans within the centralopening of the said I member, cooperating means upon th expanding meansand the portions of aid member adapted to be expanded for the.purposedescribed, v

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

ADELBERT E. BRONSON.

